Advertisement server, user terminal, advertisement method, and advertisement viewing program

ABSTRACT

When a user accesses an advertisement site by a browser unit and requests transmission of the advertisement moving image, an advertisement server requests the user to connect an electronic money card to a reader/writer. The advertisement server can communicate with the electronic money card via the browser unit. Thus, the advertisement server reads an electronic money functional unit ID which is ID information of the electronic money card from the electronic money card to store it therein, and further transmits to the user terminal moving image data of the advertisement moving image stored in the advertisement moving image database. While the user terminal is reproducing the advertisement moving image, the advertisement server accesses the electronic money card through the browser unit for every given interval, and confirms that the electronic money card is connected to the reader/writer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/593,547, filed Sep. 28, 2009, which is a National Stage ofInternational Application No. PCT/JP2008/055662 filed on Mar. 26, 2008and which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-086356filed on Mar. 29, 2007, the entire contents of which are beingincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an advertisement server, a userterminal, an advertisement method, and an advertisement viewing program,and relates to, for example, what distributes an advertisement movingimage to a user terminal

An advertising activity is one of the most important activities to aperson who performs commercial activities, and how to advertise productsof one's own company to consumers greatly affects the sales of theproducts.

Although advertisements which appeal images of the product of one's owncompany to the consumers for a very short time, like TV commercials andthe like, for example, has been widely used, an advertisement called aso-called infomercial in which the product is explained in detail for along time over, for example, 3 minutes to let the consumers understandthe contents of the product has also been increased in number in recentyears.

In addition, advertisement media that use IT (Information Technology)technologies which have been remarkably developed in recent years hasalso come to be used other than conventional televisions, radios,magazines, newspapers, and the like.

Using the IT technologies makes it possible to distribute advertisementmoving images through the Internet, thus allowing the infomercial to beprovided at extremely low cost as compared with the TV commercials orthe like.

As the technology of thus distributing the advertisement moving imageusing the Internet, there is a technology described in following PatentDocument 1 “SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DISTRIBUTING/CREATING ADVERTISEMENTMOVING IMAGE.”

Patent Citation 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-286882

This technology quickly provides information on a product in which theuser has got interested during reproduction of the advertisement movingimage.

Conventionally, however, it has not been able to confirm that the userhas been watching the advertisement moving image. Meanwhile, now thatthe user spends a considerable time to watch the advertisement movingimage, there is also a request that the user wants to get somecompensations (so-called extra income).

Therefore, it is desired to increase advertising effectiveness of theadvertisement moving image by utilizing the IT technologies.

SUMMARY

In order to achieve the object, in an embodiment, an advertisementserver is provided for transmitting an advertisement image to a userterminal connectable to an IC chip to which ID information is given, theadvertisement server, comprising: transmission request accepting meansfor accepting a transmission request of the advertisement image from theuser terminal; ID information receiving means for receiving from theuser terminal ID information of an IC chip connected to the userterminal; transmission means for transmitting to the user terminal anadvertisement image whose transmission request is accepted; and storagemeans for storing association between the transmitted advertisementimage and the received ID information.

In an embodiment, the advertisement server, comprises connectionconfirming means for confirming that the IC chip is connected to theuser terminal during reproduction of the advertisement image at the userterminal, wherein the storage means stores a confirmation result by theconnection confirming means while further associating it with the storedassociation.

In an embodiment, the advertisement server, comprises ID informationrequest means for requesting the ID information to the IC chip via theuser terminal, wherein the connection confirming means requeststransmission of the ID information to the IC chip by the ID informationrequest means while the user terminal is reproducing the advertisementimage, and confirms that the IC chip transmits the same ID informationas the ID information received by the ID information receiving means inresponse to the request to thereby confirm that the IC chip is connectedto the user terminal.

In an embodiment, the user terminal is provided with monitor means formonitoring that the IC chip is connected thereto during reproducing theadvertisement image, and the connection confirming means confirms thatthe IC chip is connected to the user terminal during the reproduction ofthe advertisement image by receiving from the user terminal a monitoredresult obtained by the monitor means.

In an embodiment, the advertisement server, comprises instruction meansfor giving to the user a connection instruction to connect the IC chipto the user terminal, and a release instruction to release theconnection, and connection/release confirming means for confirming thatthe IC chip is connected and released in response to the connectioninstruction and the release instruction, wherein the storage meansstores a confirmation result by the connection/release confirming meanswhile further associating it with the stored association.

In an embodiment, there is provided a user terminal, comprising: IC chipconnecting means for connecting to an IC chip to which ID information isgiven; transmission request means for requesting transmission of anadvertisement image to an advertisement server that distributes theadvertisement image; ID information transmitting means for acquiring theID information from the connected IC chip to transmit it to theadvertisement server; advertisement image receiving means for receivingthe requested advertisement image; reproduction means for reproducingthe received advertisement image; and supporting means for supportingthe advertisement server to confirm that the IC chip is connected by theIC chip connecting means during the reproduction of the advertisementimage.

In an embodiment, there is provided the user terminal according to claim6, wherein the supporting means connects the advertisement server andthe IC chip during the reproduction of the advertisement image.

In an embodiment, there is provided the user terminal according to claim6, comprising monitor means for monitoring that the IC chip is connectedduring reproducing the advertisement image, wherein the supporting meanstransmits to the advertisement server a monitored result by the monitormeans.

In an embodiment, there is provided an advertisement method performed byan advertisement server that transmits an advertisement image to a userterminal connectable to an IC chip to which ID information is given,wherein the advertisement server, transmission request receiving means,ID information receiving means, transmission means, and storage meansare provided, the advertisement method, comprising: a transmissionrequest accepting step of accepting a transmission request of theadvertisement image from the user terminal, by the transmission requestreceiving means; an ID information receiving step of receiving from theuser terminal ID information of an IC chip connected to the userterminal, by the ID information receiving means; a transmission step oftransmitting to the user terminal an advertisement image whosetransmission request is accepted, by the transmission means; and astorage step of storing association between the transmittedadvertisement image and the received ID information, by the storagemeans.

In an embodiment, there is provided an advertisement viewing program forcausing the computer to achieve: an IC chip connecting function ofconnecting to an IC chip to which ID information is given; atransmission request function of requesting transmission of anadvertisement image to an advertisement server that distributes theadvertisement image; an ID information transmitting function ofacquiring the ID information from the connected IC chip to transmit itto the advertisement server; an advertisement image receiving functionof receiving the requested advertisement image; a reproduce function ofreproducing the received advertisement image; and a support function forsupporting the advertisement server to confirm that the IC chip isconnected by the IC chip connecting function during the reproduction theadvertisement image.

According to the embodiments, the advertising effectiveness of theadvertisement moving image can be increased by associating the IC chipthat the user owns with the reproduction of the advertisement movingimage.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from, the following Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a configuration of an advertisement systemof the present embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating one example of a hardwareconfiguration of an electronic money card;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram diagrammatically illustrating a functionalconfiguration of the electronic money card;

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating one example of aconfiguration of a mobile phone incorporating an IC chip;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating one example of a hardware configuration ofa user terminal;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining a functional configuration of abrowser unit;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating one example of a hardware configuration ofan advertisement server;

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining various databases;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure for the advertisementserver to distribute an advertisement moving image to the user terminal;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining another procedure for theadvertisement server to distribute the advertisement moving image to theuser terminal; and

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure for an advertiserserver to request a charge from an electronic money server.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(1) Outline of Embodiment

When a user accesses an advertisement site 68 through a browser unit 61(FIG. 1) to request transmission of an advertisement moving image, anadvertisement server 3 requests the user to connect an electronic moneycard 6 to a reader/writer 5.

A function to access the electronic money card 6 through thereader/writer 5 is incorporated in the browser unit 61, and theadvertisement server 3 can communicate with the electronic money card 6through the browser unit 61 when the electronic money card 6 isconnected to the reader/writer 5.

In this way, the advertisement server 3 reads from the electronic moneycard 6 an electronic money functional unit ID which is ID information ofthe electronic money card 6 to then store it, and further transmits to auser terminal 4 moving image data of the advertisement moving imagestored in an advertisement moving image database.

The advertisement server 3 accesses the electronic money card 6 throughthe browser unit 61 for every given interval while the user terminal 4is reproducing the advertisement moving image, and confirms that theelectronic money card 6 is connected to the reader/writer 5.

The advertisement server 3 confirms that the user is viewing theadvertisement moving image by confirming that the reader/writer 5 isconnected to the electronic money card 6.

It is to be noted that the access to the electronic money card 6 may beperformed at irregular intervals. In this case, it may be configured soas to have given regularity, such that the access interval may bereduced as the distribution of the advertisement moving image approachesthe end.

When the reproduction of the advertisement moving image is completed atthe user terminal 4, the advertisement server 3 generates view recordingdata composed of the electronic money functional unit ID of theelectronic money card 6, an advertisement ID of the advertisement movingimage, a view confirmation result by the connection between theelectronic money card 6 and the reader/writer 5, and the like, andstores it in a view recording database.

Subsequently, the advertisement server 3 transmits to an advertiserserver 7 the view recording data accumulated in the view recordingdatabase for every given period.

Upon receiving the view recording data from the advertisement server 3,the advertiser server 7 calculates an amount of money that theadvertiser has to pay to the user as compensation of the view withrespect to the view recording data whose view of the advertisementmoving image is confirmed by the user, based on the view confirmationresult.

Subsequently, the advertiser server 7 sends to the electronic moneyserver 2 the electronic money functional unit ID and the amount of moneyto be paid while associating them with each other, and requests a chargeof the amount of money to be paid to the electronic money card 6.

Upon receiving the request of the charge from the advertiser server 7,the electronic money server 2 transmits money amount changinginformation for charging the amount of money to be paid, to theelectronic money card 6 through the user terminal 4 and thereader/writer 5.

The electronic money card 6 executes this money amount changinginformation, and charges the amount of money to be paid.

(2) Details of Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a configuration of an advertisement systemof the present embodiment.

An advertisement system 1 is constituted by the user terminal 4, thereader/writer 5, the electronic money card 6, the electronic moneyserver 2, the advertisement server 3, and the advertiser server 7.

The electronic money card 6 is an IC card in which a noncontact IC chipis incorporated, and it stores electronic data representing a monetaryvalue called a value, thus allowing the monetary value to be moved byincreasing/decreasing an amount of money of the value.

Although not illustrated, the electronic money card 6 is connected to anelectronic money terminal set in a shop or the like throughshort-distance wireless communication, and payment can be settled byreducing from the electronic money card 6 the value for the amount ofmoney instructed by the electronic money terminal

A unique electronic money functional unit ID is given to the noncontactIC chip, thereby allowing the electronic money card 6 to be specified inthe advertisement system 1. As described above, the noncontact IC chipfunctions as an IC chip to which the ID information is given. It is tobe noted that the present embodiment will be described using thenoncontact IC chip, but a contact IC chip may be used for it.

It is to be noted that processing of increasing the amount of moneystored in the electronic money card 6 will be called a charge, whereasprocessing of reducing it therefrom will be called a settlement.

The reader/writer 5 is a device for providing an interface between theelectronic money card 6 and the user terminal 4 when they performcommunications with each other, and it is incorporated inside the userterminal 4 upon manufacturing the user terminal 4.

The reader/writer 5 incorporates an antenna and connects to theelectronic money card 6 through short-distance wireless communication.

As a specific form of use, the electronic money card 6 is set in thereader/writer 5 by putting the electronic money card 6 on a surface of aportion where the reader/writer 5 is set.

Although a case where the electronic money card 6 is incorporated in theuser terminal 4 will be mainly described in the present embodiment, thereader/writer 5 may be attached to the user terminal 4 from the outsideas a peripheral device.

The user terminal 4 is constituted by, for example, a personal computer,and it is connectable to the advertisement server 3 and the electronicmoney server 2 via a network, such as the Internet or the like.

The user terminal 4 incorporates a browser program therein, and thebrowser program is executed by a CPU to thereby form the browser unit61.

The browser unit 61 has a function of accessing each website on thenetwork, and also incorporates therein a function of connecting to theelectronic money card 6 via the reader/writer 5.

As will be hereinbelow described, since the browser unit 61 provides afunction for the user to access the advertisement site 68 to view theadvertisement moving image, thus operating as an advertisement viewingprogram.

Incidentally, game machines, televisions, and set top boxes connectableto the network, personal digital assistants such as a mobile phone orthe like, household appliances, and the like may be used as the userterminal 4.

In addition, the user terminal 4 may not only be individually used bythe user at home or as a mobile terminal, but also be in a form of beingset in a commercial establishment such as a supermarket or the like.

In this case, it is constituted such that the user terminal 4 is set inan entrance of the commercial establishment, and the user connects theelectronic money card 6 to the reader/writer 5 to be able to view theadvertisement moving image, for example.

Further, for example, when a demonstration sale of foods is desired tobe performed, the user terminal 4 may be set in a foods counter to viewa recipe of foods by the advertisement moving image.

In this case, a plurality of readers/writers 5 are provided in the userterminal 4, and a demonstration sale member keeps the electronic moneycards 6 from a plurality of users to set them in the readers/writers 5,thus allowing the plurality of users to view it at one time.

The browser unit 61 is a function unit for accessing various websites ona network, and it can accept from the user an input of connectioninformation (URL (Uniform Resource Locators)) to the advertisement site68, to connect the user terminal 4 to the advertisement site 68, andalso can accept an input of connection information to the service siteof the electronic money server 2 to connect the user terminal 4 to theelectronic money server 2.

In addition, the browser unit 61 is provided with a link function withthe moving image reproduction program, or an accessing function to theelectronic money card 6, and it can reproduce the advertisement movingimage, or interface the communication between the advertisement server 3and the electronic money card 6.

The advertisement server 3 is a server device that provides the userterminal 4 with the advertisement moving image provided by theadvertiser.

The advertisement server 3 manages the advertisement site 68, and it isalso provided with a user database, an advertisement moving imagedatabase, and a view recording database.

The advertisement site 68 provides an advertisement selecting screen andthe like at the user terminal 4.

On the advertisement selecting screen, a list of the advertisementmoving images provided by the advertiser is displayed by genre, forexample, “car”, “health”, “travel”, and the like, and the user canselect a desired genre. Moreover, endorsement advertising from theadvertiser may be selected.

For more details, in a car genre, advertisement moving image buttons bycar-relevant advertisers are selectably displayed, such that “if youwant free car-appraisal, it is OO used car”, “if you want to buy newcar, it is OO auto”, and the like, while in a healthy genre,advertisement moving image buttons by health-relevant advertisers areselectably displayed, such that “if you want to remove fat, it is OOexercise machine”, “if you want to take supply of vitamin, it is OOtablet”, and the like.

When the user selects any advertisement moving image on theadvertisement selecting screen, the advertisement server 3 performsstreaming distribution of the moving image data to the user terminal 4.

The user database stores the electronic money functional unit ID of theelectronic money card 6 that the users own, and user's attributes, suchas age, sex, or the like, while associating them with each other.

When the electronic money functional unit ID is transmitted from theuser terminal 4, the advertisement server 3 can search this in the userdatabase to specify the user. In addition, once the user can bespecified, it can also provide the advertisement moving image accordingto the user's attribute.

The advertisement moving image database stores the moving image data ofthe advertisement moving image provided by the advertiser.

It is to be noted that the advertisement moving image is transmitted bystreaming in the present embodiment, but it is not limited to this, andit may be constituted such that after the user terminal 4 downloads allthe advertisement moving images, the user terminal 4 reproduces theimages.

The view recording database stores a view history of the advertisementmoving image viewed by the user.

The advertisement server 3 records on the view recording database theelectronic money functional unit ID received from the user terminal 4,and the advertisement ID of the advertisement moving image transmittedto the user terminal 4, while associating them with each other.

In addition, in order to confirm whether or not the user is viewing theadvertisement moving image, the advertisement server 3 polls theelectronic money card 6 for every given interval (for example, for every10 seconds, or it may be irregular), and also stores the result whilefurther associating it with an association between the above-describedelectronic money functional unit ID and advertisement ID.

Subsequently, the advertisement server 3 periodically transmits the viewrecording data thus accumulated in the view recording database to theadvertiser server 7 of the advertiser that has provided theadvertisement moving image.

The advertiser server 7 is a server device of the advertiser that hasprovided the advertisement server 3 with the advertisement moving image.Although only one server is illustrated in the figure, a plurality ofadvertiser servers 7 also exist when there are a plurality ofadvertisers.

A payment standard, such that “if the advertisement moving image isviewed from the beginning to the end, 10 yen will be paid to the user,but if it is partially viewed, payment will not be performed”, or thelike are stored in the advertiser server 7.

Upon receiving the view recording data from the advertisement server 3,the advertiser server 7 will analyze this to confirm whether or not itsatisfies the advertisement moving image viewed by the user and thepayment standard.

Subsequently, it sums the amount of money to be paid for every userbased on the payment standard to transmit this to the electronic moneyserver 2 as charge request information.

The electronic money server 2 is a server device that provides variousservices and performs information processing concerning the electronicmoney card 6.

The electronic money server 2 establishes a service site which is awebsite for performing the charge to the electronic money card 6 andalso providing various services.

Subsequently, the electronic money server 2 receives the charge requestinformation from the advertiser server 7, and charges the amount ofmoney to be paid from the service site to the electronic money card 6based on this.

For more details, the user inputs the connection information of theservice site into the browser unit 61 to connect the user terminal 4 tothe electronic money server 2, and connects the electronic money card 6to the reader/writer 5 according to instructions of the service site,such that “You can charge 100 yen by the reward of the advertisementview. Please connect the electronic money card 6 to the reader/writer5.”

Subsequently, when the payment button on the service site is clicked andthe charge of the amount of money to be paid is requested, theelectronic money server 2 will generate the money amount changinginformation for increasing the value for the amount of money to be paidto transmit it to the electronic money card 6.

The electronic money card 6 performs the charge using this money amountchanging information, thereby allowing the user to receive the reward.

As described above, the advertisement server 3 distributes theadvertisement moving image to the user terminal 4, and thereby the usercan view the advertisement moving image, in the advertisement system 1.

The advertisement server 3 can confirm that the user is viewing theadvertisement moving image by confirming whether or not the electronicmoney card 6 is connected to the reader/writer 5 while the advertisementmoving image is reproduced at the user terminal 4.

Meanwhile, when the use views the advertisement moving image, the rewardis paid to the user from the advertiser and the user can charge it tothe electronic money card 6.

It is to be noted that while a case where the advertisement server 3distributes the advertisement moving image is described in the presentembodiment, this does not limit the advertisement to a moving picture,but it may be constituted so as to distribute an advertising still imagebased on a still picture, for example.

In this case, it may be constituted so as to continue displaying thesame advertising still image, or it may be constituted so as to switchthe advertising static image at every fixed time interval like a slideshow or at an irregular interval, for example.

Even when the advertising still image is distributed, the advertisementserver 3 polls the electronic money card 6 at every given interval (forexample, 10 seconds) in order to confirm whether or not the user isviewing the advertising still image, and also stores the result whilefurther associating it with an association between the above-describedelectronic money functional unit ID and advertisement ID.

It is to be noted that the access to the electronic money card 6 may beperformed at irregular intervals. In this case, it may be configured soas to have given regularity, such that the access interval is reduced asthe distribution of the advertisement still image approaches the end.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating one example of a hardwareconfiguration of an electronic money card 6.

The electronic money card 6 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, ahigh frequency circuit 22, an antenna 26, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 23, aRAM (Random Access Memory) 24, an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable andProgrammable ROM) 25, and the like.

These devices are formed on the IC chip and this IC chip functions as amonetary terminal in which a balance (value balance) of the monetaryvalue (value) is stored.

Meanwhile, the antenna 26 is constituted by an antenna which is spreadaround near the outer edge portion inside the electronic money card 6,or on an elliptic curve around a diagonal line of the electronic moneycard 6, and an end thereof is connected to the IC chip.

The CPU 21 is a central processing unit for processing informationaccording to various programs stored in the ROM 23 or the EEPROM 25, andperforms money amount changing processing of changing the stored amountof money of the value balance, such as the settlement processing, thecharge, and the like.

The CPU 21 can perform short-distance wireless communication with thereader/writer 5 via the antenna 26 and the high frequency circuit 22.

The antenna 26 is an antenna for performing transmission and receptionby the antenna incorporated in the reader/writer 5 of the user terminal4, and electric waves, wherein it not only transmits and receives avariety of information but also generates electric power for driving theIC chip by the electric waves from the reader/writer 5.

The high frequency circuit 22 converts into digital signals thehigh-frequency waves transmitted to the antenna 26 from thereader/writer 5 to output them to the CPU 21, and conversely, convertsinto the high-frequency waves the digital signals outputted by the CPU21 to forward them to the reader/writer 5 from the antenna 26.

The RAM 24 is a randomly writable/readable memory, which provides aworking memory when the CPU 21 processes information.

In the present embodiment, it is used as a temporary storage area whenthe CPU 21 transmits the electronic money functional unit ID to the userterminal 4 or performs the money amount changing processing.

The ROM 23 is a read-only memory for storing a fundamental program,parameters, data, and the like for operating the electronic money card6.

The EEPROM 25 is a ROM, which can write/erase information. Theinformation stored in the EEPROM 25 is maintained even when there is noelectric power supply to the electronic money card 6.

In the EEPROM 25, an electronic money processing program for making theelectronic money card 6 fulfill functions as the electronic money cardis stored, and an electronic money storage unit 29 for storing variousdata, such as the electronic money functional unit ID, the valuebalance, the log data, and the like is also formed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram diagrammatically illustrating a functionalconfiguration of the electronic money card 6 formed when the electronicmoney processing program is executed by the CPU 21.

The electronic money functional unit ID, the value balance, the logdata, and the like are stored in the electronic money storage unit 29formed in the EEPROM 25.

The value balance is a balance of the value stored currently, and theelectronic money card 6 can perform the settlement processing byreducing this value balance by the electronic money terminal or the likeset in the shop.

As described above, the electronic money storage unit 29 functions asmoney amount storage means for storing the amount of money of themonetary value as the electronic data (value).

The log data is log data on which value processing content and the likeare recorded, and is composed of the processing date, hour, minute, andsecond, the charge amount, the settlement amount, and the like.

The terminal communication unit 27 is constituted by using the antenna26, the high frequency circuit 22, and the like, and it interfaces thecommunication between the user terminal 4 and value processing unit 28,such as receiving an after-mentioned ID reference command, the moneyamount changing information, and other commands from the reader/writer 5of the user terminal 4, and inputting them into the value processingunit 28.

The value processing unit 28 is an information processing unit forexecuting various commands.

The command includes the money amount changing information, the IDreference command, a balance reference command, and the like.

The money amount changing information is a command for causing the valueprocessing unit 28 to perform the money amount changing processing.

The value processing unit 28 increases and decreases the value balanceby the amount of money specified by the money amount changinginformation upon executing the money amount changing processing.

The ID reference command is a command for causing the value processingunit 28 to read the electronic money functional unit ID, and the valueprocessing unit 28 reads the electronic money functional unit ID fromthe electronic money storage unit 29 and outputs it when the IDreference command is inputted.

The balance reference command is a command for causing the valueprocessing unit 28 to read the value balance, and the value processingunit 28 reads the value balance from the electronic money storage unit29 and outputs it, when the balance reference command is inputted.

While the configuration of the electronic money card 6 has beendescribed as above, a mobile phone and other personal digital assistantsin which an IC chip similar to the IC chip incorporated into theelectronic money card 6 is mounted are also used widely in general.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating one example of aconfiguration of the mobile phone incorporating the IC chip.

The mobile phone is provided with a telephone function unit 10 and an ICchip 12, which are connected through an interface unit 11.

The IC chip 12 has a function similar to that of the IC chipincorporated into the electronic money card 6, and it has functions tooutput the electronic money functional unit ID, to perform the moneyamount changing processing, and the like.

The telephone function unit 10 has a talk mode to talk over thetelephone and an application mode, which can be switched by the user'soperation.

The telephone function unit 10 is provided with a CPU and a storage unitin which various application programs are stored, and causing the CPU toexecute the various application programs in the application mode allowsit to achieve various application functions.

The electronic money application unit 15 is formed by executing anelectronic money application program by the CPU of the telephonefunction unit 10.

The electronic money application unit 15 can access both the electronicmoney server 2 and the IC chip 12, and can interface communicationbetween the electronic money server 2 and the IC chip 12.

The IC chip 12 is connected to the electronic money application unit 15through the interface unit 11.

A terminal communication unit 16, a value processing unit 17, anelectronic money storage unit 18, and the like are formed in the IC chip12 by the CPU executing within the IC chip an electronic money programstored in the EEPROM, similar to the electronic money card 6. Thesefunctions are similar to those of the electronic money card 6 shown inFIG. 3.

The value processing unit 17 communicates with the user terminal 4 viathe terminal communication unit 16, and it can not only output theelectronic money functional unit ID and perform the money amountchanging processing similar to the electronic money card 6, but alsoreceive the money amount changing information from the electronic moneyserver 2 via the electronic money application unit 15 to thereby performthe money amount changing processing.

As described above, since the mobile phone can communicate with theelectronic money server 2 through the electronic money application unit15, it can connect the mobile phone to the electronic money server 2 viathe electronic money application unit 15, and can charge the amount ofmoney to be paid to the IC chip 12.

In addition, connecting the mobile phone to the advertisement server 3makes it possible to view the advertisement moving image with the mobilephone.

Further, connecting the mobile phone to the reader/writer 5 makes itpossible to use the mobile phone similarly to the electronic money card6.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating one example of a hardware configuration ofthe user terminal 4.

The user terminal 4 is constituted by a CPU 31, a ROM 33, a RAM 34, acommunication control unit 35, a storage unit 36, an input unit 37, anoutput unit 38, the reader/writer 5, and the like, in which they areconnected to each other through bus lines.

The CPU 31 processes information according to a given program, and alsoperforms control of the whole user terminal 4 and the like.

In the present embodiment, the CPU 31 executes the browser program toform the browser unit 61, so that it connect the user terminal 4 to theadvertisement server 3, transmits the electronic money functional unitID of the electronic money card 6 to the advertisement server 3, andreproduces the advertisement moving image.

The ROM 33 is a read-only memory for storing a fundamental program,parameters, and the like for operating the user terminal 4.

The RAM 34 is a randomly writable/readable memory, which provides aworking memory for the CPU 31, and loads and stores therein a programand data stored in the storage unit 36.

The communication control unit 35 is an internetworking device forconnecting the user terminal 4 to the advertisement server 3, theelectronic money server 2, and other server devices via the network.

The input unit 37 is constituted using input devices, for example, akeyboard, a mouse, and the like, and it accepts operations when the userselects the advertisement moving image on the advertisement selectingscreen, and performs the charge to the electronic money card 6.

The output unit 38 is constituted using output devices, for example, adisplay, a loudspeaker, a printer, and the like, and it displays ascreen of the advertisement site 68, displays the advertisement movingimage, and utters the voice accompanied with the advertisement movingimage.

The reader/writer 5 incorporates an antenna and performs wirelesscommunication with the IC chip of the electronic money card 6.

The storage unit 36 is constituted by, for example, a hard disk, otherstorage media, and a driving device for driving them, and it isconstituted by a program storage unit 42 that stores various programs, adata storage unit 44 that stores data, and the like.

An OS which is a fundamental program for operating the user terminal 4,a browser program for causing the CPU 31 to achieve the browser unit 61,and the like are stored in the program storage unit 42.

Data used by the user is stored in the data storage unit 44.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining a functional configuration of abrowser unit 61.

The browser unit 61 is constituted by a website connecting unit 62, anelectronic money card accessing unit 63, a moving image reproducing unit64, a storage unit 65, and the like.

These function units are formed by executing the browser program on theCPU 31 (FIG. 5).

The website connecting unit 62 is a function unit for connecting theuser terminal 4 to the website on the network using the connectioninformation (URL), and this makes it possible to browse theadvertisement site 68 and the service site of the electronic moneyserver 2, and also to visit other websites.

The electronic money card accessing unit 63 is incorporated in thebrowser unit 61 as, for example, an expanded function, and it is afunction unit for the user terminal 4 to access the electronic moneycard 6.

In addition, the electronic money card accessing unit 63 also provides acommunication path when the advertisement server 3 and the electronicmoney server 2 access the electronic money card 6.

The moving image reproducing unit 64 is a function unit for reproducingthe moving image in cooperation with the moving image reproductionprogram, and it performs streaming reproduction of the advertisementmoving image, for example.

The storage unit 65 stores the connection information of the websiteregistered by the user as a so-called favorite, and the user can accessthe advertisement site 68 quickly by storing the connection information(URL) of the advertisement site 68 therein.

It is to be noted that although the user's attribute is stored in theuser database of the advertisement server 3 in the present embodiment,it may be constituted so that the user's attribute is stored in thestorage unit 65 and the user terminal 4 transmits it to theadvertisement server 3.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating one example of a hardware configuration ofan advertisement server 3.

The advertisement server 3 is constituted by a CPU 51, a ROM 52, a RAM54, a communication control unit 53, a storage unit 55, and the like, inwhich they are connected to each other through bus lines.

The CPU 51 is a central processing unit for performing various kinds ofinformation processing according to a given program.

In the present embodiment, it transmits the advertisement moving imageselected by the user to the user terminal 4, confirms connection betweenthe reader/writer 5 and the electronic money card 6 during reproductionof the advertisement moving image by the user terminal 4, and generatesview history data.

The ROM 52 is a read-only memory, and a fundamental program, parameters,and the like for operating the advertisement server 3 are storedtherein.

The RAM 54 is a readable and writable memory, and it provides a workingmemory of the CPU 51, loads and stores a program and data stored in thestorage unit 55, and the like.

The communication control unit 53 is a control unit for communicatingwith the user terminal 4, the advertiser server 7, and the like.

The storage unit 55 is constituted using, for example, a large capacitystorage unit, such as a hard disk or the like, and it is constituted bya program storage unit 56 that stores various programs, a data storageunit 57 that stores data, and the like.

An OS which is a fundamental program for operating the advertisementserver 3, an advertisement site program for causing the CPU 51 toachieve the advertisement site 68, and other programs are stored in theprogram storage unit 56.

The user database, the advertisement moving image database, the viewrecording database, and other databases are stored in the data storageunit 57.

Hereinafter, these databases will be described using each view in FIG.8.

FIG. 8( a) is a view illustrating one example of a logical configurationof the user database.

The user database is composed of items, such as “electronic moneyfunctional unit ID”, “name”, “sex”, “age”, “address”, “hobby”, and thelike, and the user's attribute (personal information) is associated withthe electronic money functional unit ID.

The advertisement server 3 can specify a user by searching theelectronic money functional unit ID transmitted from the user terminal 4in the user database, and can distribute the advertisement moving imagebased on the user's attribute, for example, distributing anadvertisement moving image for male to male users, and the like.

FIG. 8( b) is a view illustrating one example of a logical configurationof the advertisement moving image database.

The advertisement moving image database is composed of items, such as“advertisement ID”, “moving image data”, “advertiser ID”, and the like,and the moving image data and the advertiser ID are associated with theadvertisement ID.

The “advertisement ID” is ID information for specifying an advertisingitem requested by the advertiser, and this makes it possible to specifythe advertisement moving image or the like to be distributed to theuser.

The moving image data of the advertisement moving image is stored in the“moving image data.”

When the user selects the advertisement moving image, the advertisementserver 3 searches the advertisement ID of the advertisement moving imagein the advertisement moving image database, and transmits the movingimage data associated with this to the user terminal 4.

The “advertiser ID” is information for specifying an advertiser that hasrequested the distribution of the advertisement moving image.

FIG. 8( c) is a view illustrating one example of a logical configurationof the view recording database.

The view recording data is stored in the view recording database.

The view recording data is composed of items, such as “view ID”,“electronic money functional unit ID”, “advertisement ID”, “view date”,“view confirmation result”, and the like, and the electronic moneyfunctional unit ID, the advertisement ID, the view date, the viewconfirmation result, and the like are associated with the view ID.

The “view ID” is ID information acquired by the advertisement server 3whenever the user views the advertisement moving image.

The “electronic money functional unit ID” is an electronic moneyfunctional unit ID transmitted to the advertisement server 3 by the userterminal 4 when the user views the advertisement moving image.

The “advertisement ID” is an advertisement ID of the advertisementmoving image viewed by the user.

The “view date” is a date when the user views the advertisement movingimage.

The “view confirmation result” is a confirmation result in which theadvertisement server 3 has confirmed the connection between theelectronic money card 6 and the reader/writer 5 while the user terminal4 is reproducing the advertisement moving image.

The “view confirmation result” includes three types of “all view”,“partial view”, and “no view.” The “all view” is a case where theconnection of the electronic money card 6 is able to be confirmedsuccessively from the start to the end of the reproduction of theadvertisement moving image, the “partial view” is a case where theconnection of the electronic money card 6 is confirmed during a partialperiod from the start to the end of the reproduction of theadvertisement moving image, and the “no view” is a case where theconnection of the electronic money card 6 is not able to be confirmedduring the reproduction of the advertisement moving image.

It is to be noted that this view confirmation result is just oneexample, and it may be classified in more detail, or alternatively, itmay be two types of “full view” and “no view.”

Although not illustrated, an advertiser database with respect to theadvertiser is also stored in the data storage unit 57.

Not only connection information to the advertiser server 7, but alsoinformation with respect to the advertiser are associated with theadvertiser ID which is information for specifying an advertiser and theyare stored in the advertiser database.

Upon transmitting the view recording data to the advertiser server 7,the advertisement server 3 acquires the connection information to theadvertiser server 7 from the advertiser database to connect to theadvertiser server 7, and transmits the view recording data thereto.

Next, a procedure in which the advertisement server 3 distributes theadvertisement moving image to the user terminal 4 will be describedusing a flowchart shown in FIG. 9.

It is to be noted that operations described in the following flowchartare performed by the CPU 21 of the electronic money card 6, the CPU 31of the user terminal 4, and the CPU 51 of the advertisement server 3,respectively.

First, the user terminal 4 is connected to the advertisement site 68 ofthe advertisement server 3 through the browser unit 61, by the user'soperation or the like (Step 15).

Upon accepting the connection to the advertisement site 68, theadvertisement server 3 transmits advertisement selecting screen data fordisplaying the advertisement selecting screen to the user terminal 4(Step 20).

The user terminal 4 receives the advertisement selecting screen datafrom the advertisement server 3, and displays the advertisementselecting screen on the display. When the user selects the advertisementmoving image to be viewed on the advertisement selecting screen (Step25), the user terminal 4 transmits an advertisement ID of theadvertisement moving image to the advertisement server 3, and requeststhe view of the advertisement moving image (transmission request means).

Upon accepting a request of the view of the advertisement moving imagefrom the user terminal 4 (transmission request receiving means), theadvertisement server 3 makes the user terminal 4 display “Please set theelectronic money card 6 to the reader/writer 5” or the like, andrequests the user to connect the electronic money card 6 to thereader/writer 5.

When the user then connects the electronic money card 6 to thereader/writer 5 (IC chip connecting means), the advertisement server 3establishes a communication path to the electronic money card 6 via theuser terminal 4, and transmits the ID reference command to theelectronic money card 6 to request transmission of the electronic moneyfunctional unit ID (Step 30).

When the electronic money card 6 receives the ID reference command fromthe advertisement server 3, it transmits an electronic money functionalunit ID of its own to the advertisement server 3 (Step 35).

Upon receiving the advertisement ID from the user terminal 4 (IDinformation receiving means), the advertisement server 3 acquires(calls) the view ID, and associates the electronic money functional unitID and the advertisement ID of the advertisement moving image selectedby the user with the view ID to store them in the view recordingdatabase (storage means).

Next, the advertisement server 3 searches this advertisement ID in theadvertisement moving image database to acquires the advertisement movingimage (moving image data), and transmits this to the user terminal 4(transmission means) (Step 40).

Upon receiving the advertisement moving image from the advertisementserver 3 (advertisement image receiving means), the user terminal 4reproduces this by the moving image reproduction program (reproductionmeans) (Step 45).

Meanwhile, upon starting the transmission of the advertisement movingimage to the user terminal 4, the advertisement server 3 transmits theID reference command to the electronic money card 6, and requests theelectronic money card 6 to transmit the electronic money functional unitID (ID information request means) (Step 55).

As described above, the user terminal 4 is provided with supportingmeans for supporting the advertisement server 3 to confirm that theelectronic money card 6 is connected to the reader/writer 5 by providingthe advertisement server 3 with the communication path to the electronicmoney card 6.

Upon receiving the ID reference command from the advertisement server 3,the electronic money card 6 transmits the electronic money functionalunit ID to the advertisement server 3 (Step 50).

Upon receiving the electronic money functional unit ID from theelectronic money card 6, the advertisement server 3 confirms that thisis the same as the electronic money functional unit ID transmitted bythe electronic money card 6 at Step 35 to thereby confirm that theelectronic money card 6 is connected to the reader/writer 5 (connectionconfirming means).

The advertisement server 3 and the electronic money card 6 perform theprocessing of above Steps 55 and 50 at a given interval (for example,every 10 seconds, or it may be irregular) while the advertisement server3 is transmitting the advertisement moving image (namely, while the userterminal 4 is reproducing the advertisement moving image).

As described above, the advertisement server 3 confirms that the user isviewing the advertisement moving image while locating in front of theuser terminal 4, by confirming the connection between the electronicmoney card 6 and the reader/writer 5.

When the advertisement server 3 completes the transmission of theadvertisement moving image (Step 60), the user completes the view by theuser terminal 4 (Step 65).

Subsequently, the advertisement server 3 associates the viewconfirmation result with the view ID acquired for the view of the user(namely, association between the electronic money functional unit ID andthe advertisement ID) to record them on the view recording database(Step 70).

The view confirmation result results in the “all view”, the “partialview”, the “no view”, or the like.

While the above example assumes a viewing style in which for example,the user accesses the advertisement site 68 during visiting variouswebsites by the browser unit 61, and if an interesting advertisementmoving image is found, the user connects the electronic money card 6 tothe reader/writer 5 to view it, it may be constituted so that when theelectronic money card 6 is connected to the reader/writer 5, the browserunit 61 is automatically started, and thereby it connects to theadvertisement site 68.

In this case, when selling a personal computer incorporating thereader/writer 5, it is particularly effective to a case where such amechanism is incorporated, and the advertiser's advertisement movingimage determined previously is desired to let the user view.

A procedure in this case will be described using a flowchart shown inFIG. 10. Incidentally, the same step number is given to the sameprocessing as that shown in FIG. 10, and description thereof will beomitted.

First, the user terminal 4 monitors whether or not the electronic moneycard 6 is connected to the reader/writer 5, and when the user connectsthe electronic money card 6 to the reader/writer 5 (IC chip connectingmeans), it detects the electronic money card 6 (Step 100).

Upon detecting the electronic money card 6, the user terminal 4transmits the ID reference command to the electronic money card 6, andrequests the electronic money card 6 to transmit the electronic moneyfunctional unit ID (Step 105).

Upon receiving the ID reference command from the user terminal 4, theelectronic money card 6 transmits the electronic money functional unitID to the user terminal 4 (Step 110).

The user terminal 4 receives the electronic money functional unit IDfrom the electronic money card 6, and stores this in the storage unit,such as the RAM 34 (FIG. 5).

Subsequently, the user terminal 4 connects to the advertisement server 3to request the advertisement view (Step 115), and it also transmits theelectronic money functional unit ID stored in the storage unit to theadvertisement server 3 (ID information transmitting means) (Step 120).As described above, the user terminal 4 has previously stored theconnection information to the advertisement server 3 in this example.

Note that it may be constituted such that the user terminal 4 reads theelectronic money functional unit ID from the electronic money card 6 atthe step of Step 25 to transmit this to the advertisement server 3.

Steps after Step 20 are the same as those shown in FIG. 9 (however,except for Steps 30 and 35).

Next, a procedure in which the advertiser server 7 requests the chargefrom the electronic money server 2 will be described using a flowchartshown in FIG. 11.

First, when the view recording data is accumulated in the view recordingdatabase, the advertisement server 3 searches in the advertisementmoving image database the advertisement ID recorded on the viewrecording data, and acquires the advertiser ID of the advertiser thathas provided the advertisement moving image.

Next, the advertisement server 3 searches the connection informationassociated with this advertiser ID in the advertiser database, andacquires the connection information to the advertiser server 7.

Subsequently, the advertisement server 3 connects to the advertiserserver 7 using this connection information, and generates the viewrecording data to transmit it to the advertiser server 7 (Step 72).

Upon receiving the view recording data from the advertisement server 3(Step 75), the advertiser server 7 stores this in the view recordingdatabase.

Subsequently, the advertiser server 7 sums the stored view recordingdata, and calculates points for every electronic money functional unitID to sum the points (Step 80).

This summing is performed by checking up the view confirmation resultrecorded on the view recording data with the payment standard.

For more details, for example, the advertiser server 7 stores thepayment standard, such as 10 points with respect to the view recordingdata whose view confirmation result is the “all view”, 1 point withrespect to the view recording data whose view confirmation result is the“partial view”, 0 points with respect to the view recording data whoseview confirmation result is the “no view”, and the like, checks up eachview recording data with the payment standard, and adds the number ofpoints for every electronic money functional unit ID.

The payment standard may be arbitrarily determined by the advertiser. Inaddition, association between the number of points and the amount ofmoney paid to the user, such that 1 point is equivalent to 1 yen, or thelike may be arbitrarily determined by the advertiser.

Thus, upon summing the point for every electronic money functional unitID, the advertiser server 7 sums the amount of money to be charged fromthe number of points, for every electronic money functional unit ID, andgenerates the charge request information to transmit it to theelectronic money server 2 (Step 85).

The charge request information includes the electronic money functionalunit ID, the amount of money to be charged, the advertiser ID, and thelike.

The electronic money server 2 receives the charge request informationfrom the advertiser server 7 (Step 90), and stores this in the database.

In this way, after receiving the charge request information from theadvertiser server 7, the electronic money server 2 charges the valuerequested from the advertiser server 7 to the electronic money card 6according to the request from the user.

This processing will be performed as follows, for example.

When the user logs in to the service site of the electronic money server2 from the user terminal 4, the electronic money server 2 displays theamount of money of the value chargeable to the user to urge the charge.

When the user connects the electronic money card 6 to the reader/writer5 according to this, for example, to click a charge button displayed onthe display of the user terminal 4, the electronic money server 2confirms the electronic money functional unit ID of the electronic moneycard 6 to then transmit to the electronic money card 6 the money amountchanging information which charges the value for the amount of money tobe paid. The electronic money card 6 receives this money amount changinginformation, and performs the charge. As described above, the user canobtain the reward resulting from the advertisement view with electronicmoney.

Different server devices are used as the advertisement server 3, theadvertiser server 7, and the electronic money server 2 in the presentembodiment described above, but not limited to this, a server device inwhich the advertisement server 3 and the advertiser server 7, theadvertisement server 3 and the electronic money server 2, the advertiserserver 7 and the electronic money server 2, and the advertisement server3, the advertiser server 7, and the electronic money server 2 arecombined may be used.

Particularly, when an electronic money business enterprise and anadvertising business enterprise are the same, the advertisement server 3and the electronic money server 2 may be combined, and the chargeableamount of money of the value and the buttons for the charge may bedisplayed on the advertisement selecting screen.

It is possible to obtain following effects according to the presentembodiment described above and modified embodiments.

(1) The advertiser can give the user detailed description of the productby the advertisement moving image.

(2) It is possible to confirm that the user is viewing the advertisementmoving image by confirming the connection between the electronic moneycard 6 and the reader/writer 5.

(3) The user can receive the reward by viewing the advertisement movingimage.

(4) Since the view of the advertisement moving image and the receipt ofthe reward are performed by the electronic money card 6, the user canview the advertisement moving image and receive the reward easily.

(5) It is possible to distribute the advertisement moving image suitablefor the use by associating the electronic money card 6 and the user'sattribute with the user database.

MODIFIED EMBODIMENT 1

Although the advertisement server 3 monitors the connection between theelectronic money card 6 and the reader/writer 5 during the reproductionof the advertisement moving image by the user terminal 4 in the aboveexample, it may be configured such that the user terminal 4 monitors theconnection between the electronic money card 6 and the reader/writer 5(monitor means), and transmits the view confirmation result to theadvertisement server 3 after completing the reproduction of theadvertisement moving image.

In this example, the user terminal 4 first transmits the ID referencecommand to the electronic money card 6, and acquires the electronicmoney functional unit ID from the electronic money card 6 to store ittherein when the electronic money card 6 is connected to thereader/writer 5.

Subsequently, when the reproduction of the advertisement moving image isstarted, the user terminal 4 transmits the ID reference command to theelectronic money card 6 at a given interval (or irregularly) to acquirethe electronic money functional unit ID from the electronic money card6, and by confirming that this is the same electronic money functionalunit ID as that stored previously, it is determined that the electronicmoney card 6 is connected to the reader/writer 5.

The user terminal 4 continues this operation till the end of thereproduction of the advertisement moving image, and transmits to theadvertisement server 3 the view confirmation result that it is the “allview” when the electronic money card 6 is connected till the end of thereproduction of the advertisement moving image, it is the “partial view”when connected during a partial period, it is the “no view” when notconnected at all, and the like. Thereby, the user terminal 4 supportsthe advertisement server 3 to confirm that the electronic money card 6is connected to the reader/writer 5.

The advertisement server 3 receives the view confirmation result fromthe user terminal 4, and associates it with the view ID to store them inthe view recording database.

MODIFIED EMBODIMENT 2

In this example, a connection instruction that “Please set theelectronic money card to the reader/writer” and a disconnectioninstruction that “Please remove the electronic money card from thereader/writer” are made to the user, upon the start of the reproductionof the advertisement moving image, during the reproduction, upon the endof reproduction, and the like (instruction means), and the user connectsor disconnect the card according to this.

These instructions and confirmations of the connection and thedisconnection may be made by the advertisement server 3 or by the userterminal 4.

For example, when the advertisement server 3 makes the instructions, theadvertisement server 3 confirms whether the electronic money card 6 isconnected or disconnected as instructed during a given time afterissuing the instructions of the connection and the disconnection (forexample, for 10 seconds), by transmitting the ID reference command(connection/release confirming means).

Subsequently, when the connection and the disconnection are madeaccording to all the instructions, the advertisement server 3 determinesthat the view confirmation result is the “all view”; when the connectionand the disconnection are made according to a part of the instructions,it determines that the view confirmation result is the “partial view”;and when the connection and the disconnection are not made according tothe instructions at all, it determines that the view confirmation resultis the “no view.” A case where the user terminal 4 makes theinstructions is also similar to that.

It is to be noted that the access to the electronic money card 6 may beperformed at irregular intervals. In this case, it may be configured soas to have given regularity, such that the access interval is reduced asthe distribution of the advertisement moving image approaches the end.

As described above, giving the operation instructions to the user tothen confirm that the user detaches and attaches the electronic moneycard 6 as the instructions makes it possible to confirm that the userexists in front of the user terminal 4, and is watching the display,thus allowing a view state of the user to be obtained more reliably.

MODIFIED EMBODIMENT 3

According to the present modified embodiment, the advertisement server 3sends questionnaires and quizzes after the reproduction of theadvertisement moving image, and the view state of the user is graspedbased on the answered results.

This may be combined with the connection confirmation between theelectronic money card 6 and the reader/writer 5 according to theprevious embodiment, or alternatively, without performing the connectionconfirmation between the electronic money card 6 and the reader/writer5, the “all view”, the “partial view”, and the “no view” may bedetermined based on the answers to the questionnaires and the quizzes.

As contents of the questionnaires, it is more effective to providecontents which can obtain information valuable to the advertiser fromthe user, such that “Do you own a car currently?”, “Are you consideringto buy a new car?”, and the like, for the advertisement moving image ofcars, for example.

Meanwhile, as contents of the quizzes, it is possible to furtherincrease advertising effectiveness by providing contents which furtherimpress product's effects on the user, such that “Please select theeffect of OO hot spring from next items; 1: Promotion of metabolism, 2:Smooth skin, 3: Stabilization of blood pressure, 4: All of 1 to 3”, forthe advertisement moving image of hot springs, for example.

In addition, a quiz for testing how much attentiveness the user has paidon which advertisement moving image, such that “What color thebackground of the screen was?”, and the like, while changing thebackground color of the advertisement moving image, is also possible.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention andwithout diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intendedthat such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a communication unitconfigured to communicate with a terminal, the communication unitconfigured to receive a request for an image reproduction on theterminal and an ID information to identify an IC chip which is connectedto the terminal; a controller configured to confirm whether the IC chipis connected to the terminal during the image reproduction on theterminal
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: astorage unit, wherein the controller is configured to store a record ofa confirmation result on the storage unit.
 3. The apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the record includes the ID information of the IC chip.4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the record includes anassociation between the ID information of the IC chip and another IDinformation to identify an image reproduced on the terminal.
 5. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit isconfigured to transmit an ID request to the terminal during the imagereproduction on the terminal.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5,wherein the communication unit is configured to receive the IDinformation of the IC chip from the terminal in response to the IDrequest.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controlleris configured to confirm whether the IC chip is connected to theterminal based on the ID information received in response to the IDrequest.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the controllergenerates a request information to add a value associated with the IDinformation of the IC chip based on the confirmation result.
 9. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image reproduced isassociated with an advertisement image
 10. The apparatus according toclaim 9, further comprising: a storage unit configured to store adatabase including an association between the ID information of the ICchip and user attribute information, wherein the controller isconfigured to determine an advertisement image to be transmitted to theterminal based on the received ID information of the IC chip and thecommunication unit is configured to transmit the determinedadvertisement image to the terminal.
 11. The apparatus according toclaim 9, wherein the communication unit is configured to receive userattribution information and the controller is configured to determine anadvertisement image to be transmitted to the terminal based on thereceived user attribution information.
 12. The apparatus according tothe claim 1, wherein an image reproduced is associated with anadvertisement.
 13. The apparatus according to the claim 1, wherein animage reproduced is a video image.
 14. A terminal apparatus comprising:a controller; a communication unit configured to communicate with anexternal apparatus; and a connection unit configured to connect to an ICchip; wherein the controller is configured to reproduce an image and tomonitor whether the IC chip is connected to the connection unit duringan image reproduction.
 15. The terminal apparatus according to claim 14,wherein the controller monitors the IC chip connection if thecommunication unit receives a request from the external apparatus.
 16. Amethod comprising: receiving, by a communication unit, a request for animage reproduction on a terminal and an ID information to identify an ICchip which is connected to the terminal; confirming, by a controller,whether the IC chip is connected to the terminal during the imagereproduction on the terminal.
 17. The method according to claim 16,further comprising: storing, by a storage unit, a record of aconfirmation result.
 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein therecord includes the ID information of the IC chip.
 19. The methodaccording to claim 17, wherein the record includes an associationbetween the ID information of the IC chip and another ID information toidentify an image reproduced on the terminal.
 20. The method accordingto claim 16, further comprising: transmitting, by the communicationunit, an ID request to the terminal during the image reproduction on theterminal.
 21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:receiving, by the communication unit, the ID information of the IC chipfrom the terminal in response to the ID request.
 22. The methodaccording to claim 21, further comprising: confirming, by thecontroller, whether the IC chip is connected to the terminal based onthe ID information received in response to the ID request.
 23. Themethod according to claim 22, further comprising: generating, by thecontroller, a request information to add a value associated with the IDinformation of the IC chip based on the confirmation result.
 24. Themethod according to claim 16, wherein an image reproduced is associatedwith an advertisement image
 25. The method according to claim 24,further comprising: storing, by a storage unit, a database including anassociation between the ID information of the IC chip and user attributeinformation; determining, by the controller, an advertisement image tobe transmitted to the terminal based on the received ID information ofthe IC chip; and transmitting, by the communication unit, the determinedadvertisement image to the terminal.
 26. The method according to claim24, further comprising: receiving, by the communication unit, userattribution information; and determining, by the controller, anadvertisement image to be transmitted to the terminal based on thereceived user attribution information.
 27. The method according to theclaim 16, wherein an image reproduced is associated with anadvertisement.
 28. The method according to the claim 16, wherein animage reproduced is a video image.
 29. A method comprising: reproducing,by a terminal apparatus, an image; and monitoring, by the terminalapparatus, whether an IC chip is connected to the terminal during animage reproduction.
 30. The method according to claim 29, furthercomprising: monitoring, by the terminal apparatus, the IC chipconnection if the terminal apparatus receives a request from an externalapparatus.